Post Masters Researcher - Biology

Eastern Washington University, United States

Updated: about 19 hours ago
Location: Cheney, WASHINGTON
Deadline: 01 May 2024

Posting Details
Posting Details


Position Title Post Masters Researcher - Biology
Posting Number 2024032EP

Position Information


Classification Title Research Associate-Biology
Working Title Post Masters Researcher - Biology
Classification Code 1540
RCW Exemption Criteria 12 - Research Activities
EWU Position Number E99188
CUPA Code No Match
FLSA Exempt - Professional
Bargaining Unit
% Full Time 100
Salary / Wage Range AE - 107
Salary Information
The salary for this position is $53,953 (minimum) up to $57,000. Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on qualifications, education, experience, and skills.
Anticipated Start Date 06/17/24
Term of Appointment 12 months
Location Cheney Campus
County Spokane
Project Description
  • A one-year post masters research position as part of a $1.4 million NSF-funded collaborative project.
Project Duration 1 year - June 16, 2024 - June 15, 2025
Background Check Yes - Both
Responsible HR User Kenlyn Mackey
Responsible HR User Email address [email protected]

Position Details


Job Summary
The College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CSTEM) at Eastern Washington University is currently seeking applicants for a Post Master’s Degree Researcher in the Department of Biology to start June 17, 2024.
EWU is a regional comprehensive university and the 20 faculty members in the Biology Department excel in undergraduate research and education. The Biology Department also hosts a Master’s of Science program that enrolls 25 students. EWU is located in Cheney, WA, 16 miles south of Spokane, WA, which was recently recognized as one of the up-and-coming small cities in the USA. Situated at the edge of the Rocky Mountains, a few hours’ drive from the Cascade Mountains, and multiple large lakes and rivers, the area has a great deal to offer outdoor recreation enthusiasts. There are multiple other universities and research institutes in the area with which EWU faculty maintain active collaborations, including Washington State University, The University of Idaho, Gonzaga University, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratories.
Post-Master’s Researcher
Job Summary:
  • This is a one-year post-Master’s research position available as part of a $1.4 million NSF-funded collaborative project with The New York Botanical Garden titled “Integrating Digitization, Exploration, Genomics, and Student Training to Illuminate Forces Shaping Appalachian Lichen Distributions.”
  • The project will examine the how intrinsic biological characteristics and extrinsic environmental conditions shape species distributions through development of lichen symbioses in the Appalachian Mountains as a model system. The award summary can be viewed on the National Science Foundation Website: (https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2115191&HistoricalAwards=false )
  • The researcher will be primarily responsible for conducting multiple large-scale analyses and publishing the results.
  • Past experience analyzing population genomics and/or ecological data sets is essential.
  • Additional aspect of the position can be negotiated to match the researcher’s career goals and interests (e.g., including field work, undergraduate and graduate student mentoring, teaching, and public outreach).
  • The ideal candidate for this position will take advantage of the opportunity to gain substantial experiences integrating research with undergraduate education.
  • In addition to salary, the university offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, life and disability insurance and retirement. In addition, EWU offers generous vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays per year and fringe benefits, such as tuition waiver for employees and their eligible family members, discounted EWU sports tickets, full access to our campus workout facilities at a minimum fee and free transportation through STA buses. For additional information regarding insurance benefits please see our Benefits page: http://inside.edu.edu/hr/benefits/insurance/ .


Please see job duties section for a more complete list of position responsibilities.
About Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University, a regional, comprehensive public university with an enrollment of over 10,000 students, is one of six state-funded four-year institutions of higher education in Washington, each governed by its own board of trustees. EWU’s 300-acre main campus is located in Cheney, a community of 12,000 residents 16 miles southwest of Washington’s second largest city, Spokane. Eastern also offers programs in downtown Spokane at the innovative, energy-efficient Catalyst building, the SIERR building which is a hub for research, development and advancement of health sciences, and at Riverpoint, a campus shared with Washington State University. In addition, EWU programs can be found at select locations throughout the state, aligned with the needs of the community. Eastern contributes to the vitality of the region and the state through its wide array of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in over 100 fields of study, as well as applied doctorates in physical therapy and educational leadership, offering accessible pathways to career success and personal development to students of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
Eastern Washington University has been recognized for its commitment to helping undergraduate students learn, grow and succeed by Colleges of Distinction , a nationally trusted resource guide for college-bound students. The honor recognizes Eastern as a ’22-’23 College of Distinction (CoD).
Money magazine recently named EWU as one of its Best Colleges in America 2023 .
Tribal Land Acknowledgement
Eastern Washington University resides within the traditional homelands of the Spokane People and other tribes who are connected through their shared history of this region. This land holds their cultural DNA and it is their Ancestors who are here and bring forth the knowledge of this place—the knowledge that comes from the land.
Diversity Statement
EWU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, age, marital status, families with children, protected veteran or military status, HIV or hepatitis C, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, as provided for and to the extent required by state and federal laws.
Conditions of Employment
  • This is a one year, 100% grant funded position.
  • Typical work schedule of 8:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday, may vary depending on the needs of the project and students.
  • This position, during the course of university employment will be involved in the receipt of, or accountability for, university funds or other items of value; as well as the unsupervised access with the developmentally disabled, vulnerable adults or children under the age of 16. The offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion and passing of a background check prior to beginning employment.
  • All new employees must comply with EWU immunization Policy 602-02 and provide proof of immunity or vaccination to MMR before beginning work at EWU. Waivers for the immunization requirements are available for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs.
  • Upon hire employees will complete our required Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Hazing, Harassment and Title IX training. Online training can be accessed at http://Inside.ewu.edu/hr/training/ .


This is an Administrative Exempt position and is covered by EWU Policy 406-01, Exempt Employment.
Physical Demands
If you would like to obtain a copy of the Essential Functions Analysis form, which describes the physical and mental demands of the position, please contact Kenlyn Mackey at [email protected] .
Pre-Placement Physical No
Hearing Test No
Medical Monitoring Post Hire No
Protective Equipment
University, local, regional, and state mandates for public and personal protection should be followed as needed. This will include but is not limited to protective gloves and eye protection when needed.
Required Qualifications
  • M.S. at time of hire in Biology, Bioinformatics, Evolutionary Biology, Ecology or related fields,
  • Demonstrated expertise in genomics, population genomics, bioinformatics, and/or large-scale ecological analyses,
  • Skills in manuscript writing and publishing,
  • Strong verbal communication and teamwork skills.
  • Demonstrated interest, ability and/or experience promoting cultural competency, universal accessibility, and/or diversity.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with student mentoring and undergraduate teaching,
  • Public outreach and science communication,
  • Past field and/or laboratory work with fungi and/or algae.
Other Skills and Abilities
Work Schedule Type Other
Work Schedule
Typical work schedule of 8:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday, may vary depending on the needs of the project and students.
Posting Date 04/02/2024
Open Until Further Notice No
Closing Date 05/01/2024
Screening to Begin 04/26/24
Special Instructions to Applicants
It is strongly recommended that you print a copy of these instructions and the position posting before you begin to complete the online application, as the instructions will not be viewable once you begin the application process.
Application materials must include:
  • Cover letter, which includes a description of previous research experience, data analysis skills, and career goals. (2 page maximum)
  • Curriculum vita
  • Diversity Response: Additionally, as an equal opportunity employer with multicultural staff and student populations representing various cultures and backgrounds that may be different from your own you will be asked to respond to this prompt as part of the online application process: Please describe how you will apply an approach that is supportive to the diverse needs, including universal access, of our students, faculty, staff, and the public.
Application Types Accepted Application

Job Duties


% of Time 100
Responsibility / Duty
  • Analyze large genomic and/or ecological datasets.
  • Write scientific manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Design experiments and data analysis workflows.
  • Present research results at scientific conferences.
  • Mentor undergraduate students in research.
  • Conduct field work.
  • Conduct molecular laboratory work (i.e., extracting and sequencing genomic DNA).
Essential Function Indicator Yes

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